Huon Pine Punt: Treasured Tassie Timber

If any of the readers have travelled around Tasmania there will be no doubt that at some stage they would have seen a small timber rowing boat but most probably not given much thought to either its origin or its use. At first glance it looks like any other small timber boat however upon closer inspection some remarkable differences become apparent.

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The iconic Huon Pine Punt, steeped in the tradition of Tasmanian timber

The Huon Pine Punt

The bow and stern of the Huon Pine punt generally rise a little out of the water. The bow is blunt and to the uninitiated a little ungainly. It’s overall appearance unremarkable in many respects. To those that know this sturdy little water workhorse there could be none better for the tasks it has undertaken. Unfettered respect has been endowed upon its timbers to those that have used this boat for both livelihood and pleasure.

According to the late Harry McDermott of Strahan, the Huon Pine punt would have originated in the Port Davey region in the late years of the 19th century. Whilst the felling of Huon pine had been in existence since convict days the use of a specific boat to assist the piners is not evident. Harry credits the Doherty brothers with building the first of these sturdy craft down at Port Davey and later at Strahan. The boats were not built by plan specifically but by the knowledge of the piners who required a short maneuverable boat. The design was relatively simple and they were cheap to build. The fact that they were made from Huon pine meant that there would be longevity and no chance of rot or borers even though the boats would be wet for most of their life.

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The Huon Pine punt is thought to have originated in Port Davey, Tasmania

Rowing the Huon Pine Punt

The length of the boat was between 12’ and 16’ and could be rowed quite fast by two rowers. It was built from the bottom up but with no keel. The clinker style planking was completed prior to turning over when the ribs and other internal structure were added. The bow and stern were referred to as Tucks. The end result was a versatile little work horse. Carvel or smooth hulls were also built in Strahan in later years particularly by Harry Grining.

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Apparently, two men could row quite quickly in the Huon Pine Punt

Attie Doherty built a number of punts for the state government of the day which were placed on the west coast rivers for the use of shipwrecked sailors. He was paid eighty four sovereigns at a rate of one pound per foot.

There are many stories of these little boats in which the piners used to row many miles up the west coast rivers, setting up camp and felling the Huon pine and then rafting them down to the harbour and then eventually to Strahan for milling. I recall one story of Gordon Abel, as a young man injuring his hand with an axe and then being rowed for over two days down the Gordon River and to Strahan to receive medical attention.

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Those interested in Tasmanian wooden boats will find the Huon Pine Punts attractive

Huon Pine: The Story of the Piners

The men who used these boats were as tough as the craft they used. Strong hardworking men who would spend months in the rainforest felling the Huon pine. They would row these boats for miles up rivers, drag them over rapids and through gorges with their supplies aboard. Then when the time came return down the rivers and to their families in Strahan and other west coast towns. I have no doubt they worked up a lather of sweat and a mighty thirst for a cold beer upon their return. Next time you see one of these little boats give some thought to the life they have lived and of the men they carried in their lifetime upon the wild waters of the mighty west coast rivers.

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Discover the story of the Tasmanian piners and their Huon Pint Punts

Recommended reading: The Huon Pine Story by Garry Kerr & Harry McDermott for the full story of Huon Pine and the lives of the piners, their families and the harvesting and use of Huon Pine.

Comments relevant to this article are always most welcome, just leave a reply below. But first… please confirm the date of this article. Have you found something current, or is this ancient information? Either way, thanks for your company and come back again soon.

3 Comments

Roseann Howarth
on 28 June 2012 at 1:18 pm

So pleased to see there are still a few of these wonderful Huon pine boats still in existence. The uniqueness of this, one of our rare Tasmanian timbers. now thankfully protected. Thank you Mike for stories of these punts and their uses – lovely to learn more about our beautiful State.